Episode 436: Darryl McLean

NSW southern districts racing lost a loyal and dedicated servant recently when Darryl McLean called time on his 48 year career as a member of the SDRA Stewards panel. He officiated for the last time at the Corowa meeting on Monday July 31st and by his own admission left the course with very mixed feelings. It’s my great pleasure to catch up with Darryl on this week’s podcast to talk about his remarkable transition from furniture salesman to stipendiary steward. He attended a Sunday meeting at Wagga the following Sunday, but only as a spectator. He received a special surprise on the day. Darryl says his final day at Corowa was emotion charged. Wangaratta born and raised, McLean says there wasn’t a trace of racing in his family background. He talks of a boyhood fascination with Aussie Rules football.  Darryl looks back on his first job with Paterson’s Pty Ltd Furniture and Floor Coverings. He spent most of his time on the road canvassing business. He says it came as a big surprise when the boss informed him of a transfer to the company’s Wagga division. Darryl says his passion for football led him to a coaching job with the Wagga TIgers Under 16’s side. It wasn’t long before new found friends talked him into joining the crowd at the Wagga races. He says he was hooked from the moment he heard those drumming hooves. Darryl says his lifelong interest in thoroughbred breeding developed in those early days. He looks back on the advertisement in the Daily Advertiser calling for expressions of interest in a job as a cadet steward. He applied and was given a one month probationary period. He says he combined stewarding duties with his job at Patersons Pty Ltd for close to a decade. Darryl remembers his early days in the new job working at race meetings as far away as Balranald. He pays tribute to the stewards from whom he learned his craft. Darryl’s sense of humour comes to the fore as he tells the story of the real reason he took to wearing a hat. He acknowledges the good advice he received from Bill Armstrong who was then Chairman of the SDRA. He’d previously been a high profile race starter in Victoria. He tells the humorous story of the jockey who told the starter at a Non TAB Griffith meeting that his mount may not get around the first turn. The rest of the story is very entertaining. Darryl shares memories of a certain overweight clerk of the course who devised a novel way of mounting his pony. He talks of the days when stewards didn’t have the luxury of modern technology as an aid to assessing race interference. The respected steward talks about the downside of having to ban licenced people who’ve been involved in malpractice. He had his own way of coping with it. Darryl talks of some outside business interests he pursued while working as a steward. He talks of his property close to Wagga where his wife Pauline runs half a dozen thoroughbred broodmares. He talks of a Wagga Cup win in 1990 which brought tears to the eyes of most spectators. The veteran pays tribute to a handful of special horses who’ve raced in the Riverina under his watch. Darryl acknowledges the talents of some of the leading riders and trainers he’s known during his tenure. He predicts a bright future for a young female apprentice who only recently went on loan to a top Sydney stable. Darryl says southern districts racing is in the hands of some outstanding young stewards. An enjoyable chat with a man whose contribution to NSW country racing will be long remembered.